When Should You Buy Organic?

[Richard]

WASHINGTON - October 4 - If you're concerned about food safety, you probably already look for organic produce at the supermarket. But if you can't always buy organic, you can still dramatically lower your family's exposure to chemical pesticides by choosing the least pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables with the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

The Shopper's Guide is a handy, wallet-size card that lists the "Dirty Dozen" most contaminated fruits and vegetables, as well as the 12 most "Consistently Clean" items. It's available for free download at http://www.foodnews.org. The newest edition of the Guide comes in both English and Spanish versions for the first time.

The Shopper's Guide was developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. EWG's computer analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.

Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to about 15 pesticides a day, on average. Eating the 12 least contaminated will expose a person to fewer than two pesticides a day.

"Federal produce tests tell us that some fruits and vegetables are so likely to be contaminated with pesticides that you should always buy them organic," said Richard Wiles, EWG's senior vice president. "Others are so consistently clean that you can eat them with less concern. With the Shopper's Guide in your pocket, it's easy to tell which is which."

EWG's analysis of federal testing data found:

• Peaches and apples topped the Dirty Dozen list. Almost 97 percent of peaches tested positive for pesticides, and almost 87 percent had two or more pesticide residues. About 92 percent of apples tested positive, and 79 percent had two or more pesticides. The rest of the Dirty Dozen include sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes.
  
• Onions, avocados, and sweet corn headed the Consistently Clean list. For all three foods, more than 90 percent of the samples tested had no detectable pesticide residues. Others on the Consistently Clean list include pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya.

There is growing scientific consensus that small doses of pesticides can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.

While washing and rinsing fresh produce can reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Although the Shopper's Guide only measures pesticide residues on produce, buying organic also makes sense if you're concerned about bacterial contamination. Organic farmers meet all the sanitation standards required of conventional growers and, on, top of that, meet tight restrictions on the use of compost and other organic material that do not apply to conventional fruit and vegetable growers.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/1004-10.htm

[Astrojewels]

This is good advice, and about time that they admitted that most food is contaminated. Organic farms are not as safe as one would think, although they claim to use no chemicals and hormones to increase productivity, most organic produce is grown from seeds that have been altered by genetic science and grown through hydroponics. The hydroponics growing system typically works under false sunlight and without soil, the root system is fed a chemical concoction which speeds up growth, therefore the end product is achieved in half the time of normal farming.   

If you are unable to grow your own produce, I recommend the best place to buy fresh is from a market stall, where you find a hobby farmer selling their produce. The product will not look as good as you will find in a large store, and it should smell like real fruit and vegetables, it should not feel waxy, and will not last as long, fresh produce has a very short shelf life. The other thing is that hobby farmers love what they do, therefore the energy put into the food is also positive, energy is absorbed with all growth, this is another aspect that all should be aware of.
Is there anyone on the forum that has a garden and grow their own produce? Or anyone who can advise others where to get good quality produce, maybe members are in the same area.

[PurpleParrot]

I wish I could help with that information. I usually go to the health food stores to eat their foods/buy the packaged foods. The rest is purchased at the large brand grocery stores where I know in my mind its not good but for now I feel limited to the choices--thats why I need to be independent!!!. I violet flush my food constantly. sometimes I sadly have to reheat it in the microwave, so I violet flush most of the time after its heated. I  try to remember to violet flush before. I often ask that the food is blessed. If I remember, I'll ask that the food is properly utilized in my body. I have friends who talked about growing their own produce but I think it was for themselves? I know someone who grows fennel and another who grows sage and berries--they do it for fun and they often consume what they grow..even if its erm..grown in staten island.....

[Astrojewels]

PP,

In Australia we have community gardens, mostly retired people who gather for a social need but also grow produce, they sell the produce to cover any costs of the gardens. Maybe in your area you could get something like this going, if not I am sure there is a weekend market in your area where you can get your fresh vegetables from.

You sometimes have to search these people out, I found a man who produces pure honey, and the taste depends on the season, it is spring here, we have a delicious floral mixture and he adds nothing to it, if you have flu type symptoms, honey is the cure, but do not ever buy commerical honey. Another man who we get eggs and tomatoes from, but sometimes I do have to buy from the store, and usually go to the fruit shop, it is hard to resist the extremely good looking produce from those big stores, they make everything look so nice –part  of the illusion.

[William]

  I grow my own small garden each year.    Bell peppers, tomatoes, herbs for cooking etc....   I cooked this last night and it was to die for..... Mozzarella and Parmesan melt over breaded chicken swimming in spaghetti sauce.    Slurp~   My spaghetti sauce has no sugar added but is sweet as if sugar is added.

  Astrojewles, talking about food and cooking....  I love to cook....  But there is a show here in the USA called  "take home chef",  Its really good and has an Aussie as the main Chef cooking for people in their homes suprising someone coming home.  Fun!  He's a cool bloke.  Have you heard of him?

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/takeho...echef.html

[Astrojewels]

William,

I have not heard of this bloke, but more Aussies are finding their way on to US television. Do not know why, but Americans love that Aussie accent.

That is great that you have your own garden, we used to have a big vegetable garden but just do not have the time now and usually only grow a few things during summer. Your meal sounds delicious, I love food and cooking, also the energy that both bring when you have guests, it really is one of life’s pleasures.

[Reader]

Hi William - good to see you like growing your own veges.  We have a big garden and grow lots of stuff throughout all the seasons - we have lots of space and access to a bore for the summer when the water restrictions are a problem.  We seldom use any pesticides (fruit fly is a big problem) and mostly naturally made compost and some animal manures to help the crops.  The flavours of the foods are great, it just takes longer to prepare them (wash off the aphids, pick off the worms or beetles etc).

Regarding the Take Home Chef - Curtis Stone - here we had a programme called Surfing the Menu which he did with another bloke - Ben.  They went to many places around Australia, cooking fresh produce and doing fun stuff at the same time.  I didn't see all the episodes.  The website is http://abc.net.au/surfingmenu/about_curtis.htm   It has all the episodes listed with the names of the recipes they cooked and where they did this.

We also had a programme some time ago, where a Chef called Aristos (Greek-Aussie) would stop someone in the supermarket, look in their trolley, select a few items and go home with them to cook the items (with anything else interesting he found in their fridge or pantry.  He did some amazing things, and was very popular - he's a great guy and I loved that programme.  He was always happy when someone had some pots of herbs growing outside their kitchen - I reckon most people could try that unless of course they live in an apartment building in a big city.  Maybe they could have a window box full of parsley, basil, coriander or whatever they fancy.  Just a bit of trivia in case anyone's interested!

[William]

  Reader, thanks for the great reply....   Where I live Rosemary is easy to grow and grows all year long.   Sorry to say that I kinda dont cook much with Rosemary because ive had so much of it.  Anyone know how to make incense out of Rosemary or herbs??  That would be fun to do....  I could look it up but maybe someone out there has done it for a hobby?   Basil is my next favorite to grow.   Anywho  thanks for the link on Curtis Stone.  

  One of my earlier favorite chefs was the "Naked chef", but he was out of England instead of Aussie. 

 

[Astrojewels]

Reader,

I want to come over to your house for some good tucker! Do you grow garlic among your veggies, this can keep those darn fruit flies at bay. I have seen Aristos and he does a great job with what is provided and has great ideas, he also has a great sense of humor. William, I love basil, it compliments so many dishes and coriander is a favorite, as I love to cook with chili.

[Reader]

Hi again William - Rosemary grows really well here too - I always use it when cooking lamb and chicken (together with garlic).  I have been told that a Rosemary infusion every morning helps with high blood pressure.  Basil is great with anything containing tomato and of course there is always Pesto to have with spaghetti (basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper - some parmesan cheese also in some recipe books - there's always variations).

Jamie Oliver is fantastic, he is on TV with his programme "Fifteen" where he has organised for a group of young people who have experienced many problems in their lives to have the opportunity of learning how to become chefs.  This is the Aussie version of his previous one in the UK, and it is both funny and  heartrending to watch each week.

Hi Astrojewels - yes we have garlic in several patches of the garden - it is not only good to eat but also a good companion plant.  Some years are worse for fruit fly than others - they go savoury and attack capsicums and tomatoes - sometimes it seems we have everything that hops, skips, jumps, burrows and flies - smorgesbord for all the birds and other insects, so there's always good in all things.  Homegrown produce has wonderful flavours, especially when it's grown with love and care.  There are several organic food shops here now, and I've noticed separate organic sections in the fruit & veg depts of the big supermarkets.

If you come to the West, you're welcome to come for a meal!